Los Angeles, CA – Over 100 firefighters battled a large commercial fire in downtown Los Angeles early Monday morning, containing the flames after a 90-minute effort.
The fire broke out at approximately 1:43 a.m. in the 1300 block of South Flower Street, between Venice and Pico boulevards. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), flames engulfed a graffiti-covered structure and spread to an adjacent mixed-use two-level building.
Crews initially knocked down the bulk of the fire in a one-story portion at the back of the building within 15 minutes. However, the fire rapidly spread into another one-story commercial structure. Incident Commander Assistant Chief Douglas Lewis expanded the operation, directing companies to adopt a defensive posture as flames burned through the roof. Ladder pipes and hand lines were deployed to combat the growing blaze.
Firefighters worked for over an hour to contain the flames while successfully defending nearby buildings, including an auto body shop and a four-story apartment complex. Apartment occupants were able to shelter in place, and no evacuations were necessary.